eliasren

[eliasren]

"You're very welcome, Devin." He smiled at her. "How have you been? It's been ages since I last saw you."

"They were." Devin agreed with a smile and looked at him and laughed. "I appreciate that so much, thank you, Elias."

[eliasren]

"No I get that, I'd rather do stupid and reckless shit on dry land and not die in a fucking cave."

"I have and that's why I had that first reaction." She looked at Elias. "I've done stupid and reckless shit before, but at the same time, I still like breathing and living."

[eliasren]

He looked at her as she spoke and couldn't help but smile as he listened to her words. "I'm glad I stepped out tonight too and you're right, there are nights here where it just doesn't feel real and we're in some sort of fantasy world." He chuckled. "Thank you though, I always feel like my noise is too loud for everyone else and that's why I tend to stay away most times." He admitted.

Emersyn smiled at his words, the kind of smile that comes from recognizing something in someone else—something real. “Well, if this is you being a hermit, I think you’re doing it right,” she teased gently, her voice soft with sincerity. “You picked a good night to step out of hiding.” She looked out at the waves again, the tide steadily rolling in like the world’s quiet heartbeat. “I’m glad you’re here, too. Some nights just… land different. And this one feels like it showed up exactly when we needed it.” His next words made her pause, the truth in them settling like sand after a wave. She turned back to him, gaze steady and open. “Yeah. I get that,” she said quietly. “Peace always sounds like this big, still thing we’re supposed to find, but maybe it’s more like this—being honest, a little messy, not running from it all, just sitting with it.” She gave a small nod, almost to herself. “A nice place to be,” she echoed, then met his eyes with a soft grin. “And for what it’s worth, you wear the noise well. But I’m glad you’re letting the quiet sit next to you for a little while.”

[eliasren]

"I get it, it happens to...well I'm sure it's happened to all of us at one point or another." He admitted and chuckled. "I'm doing really good. Life seems to finally be slowing down, you know?"

"I mean, it wasn't like I was planning on that happening. It just happened." Aiden laughed and looked at Elias. "How are you doing though man?" He asked. "It has been way too long."

[eliasren]

"I agree with you there man." Elias smiled at his friend and took a sip of his water. "There's just something about traveling though, doesn't matter if we're with the town or on solo trips, it's always nice to get out of Red Edge for a bit."

"This has got to be the best vacation we have ever taken." Noah looked at the person he was walking around with. "The food, the atmosphere, the vibes, everything is just...amazing." @rededgerpstarterblog

[eliasren]

"Hey, just because I am like a hermit doesn't mean I don't want to be outside and enjoy a nice sunset or good company." Elias chuckled and looked at her. "It does, yeah, but I'm glad that this is happening tonight. I needed it."

"I don't think I'll ever know what peace fully means." He admitted and looked at her. "Though I don't think I'd want to outrun the noise either. It's a nice place to be."

Elias ran a hand through his hair as he took in everything going on around him. Though it wasn't much. Just a setting sun, some people enjoying the last few moments of daylight and what felt like being at peace. Walking up to Emersyn, he smiled at her and said, "It is a very nice night, yeah. How have you been?"

[eliasren]

Elias ran a hand through his hair as he took in everything going on around him. Though it wasn't much. Just a setting sun, some people enjoying the last few moments of daylight and what felt like being at peace. Walking up to Emersyn, he smiled at her and said, "It is a very nice night, yeah. How have you been?"

The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, smearing soft pinks and oranges across the sky like an artist who couldn’t quite stop blending. Emersyn kicked off her shoes, letting the warm sand sink between her toes as she strolled along the shoreline, a to-go coffee cup still half-full in her hand. Work had been long, but not bad—just the usual grind—and this was her favorite part of the day: quiet, easy, salt on the breeze and no rush to be anywhere.

Her bag was slung over one shoulder, earbuds in but not playing anything. Sometimes the sound of the waves was enough. She paused to watch a couple seagulls squabble over a chip someone had dropped earlier, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

It wasn’t often she had time to slow down. Even rarer that she let herself enjoy it. Not far off, she caught sight of someone else walking the same path, a silhouette against the watercolor sky. Emersyn lifted her cup in casual greeting. “Nice night, huh?” she called, voice easygoing and warm. @rededgerpstarterblog

[eliasren]

"No you weren't, fuck cave diving. Have you heard the horror stories that surround that shit?"

"There is no way in hell you could get me to go deep sea cave diving." Calliope shook her head and put her phone down. "One of the moms of the daughter that I teach dance to suggested that I do that and I was like 'hell no' and they got mad because I said I didn't want to go. Was I wrong?" @rededgerpstarterblog

[eliasren]

Elias looked at Devin and chuckled. "High school days are always fun to remember." He said. "I mean, if you can remember them." He teased her. "I won't let you get too drunk so you'll have a horrible hangover in the morning." He promised.

"Oh my God, it feels so good to be out of the house and not having to worry about the kids I nanny." Devin laughed. "Though, don't get me wrong, I'm still worried about them, even though I know they're safe, but every once in a while, I just need a fun night out and bonfires are always fun." She shrugged and took a sip from whatever mixed drink was in her red solo cup.

"Though, this does take me back to my high school days, drinking from red solo plastic cups, not having a care in the world, probably having a horrible fucking hangover in the morning. It'll be so fun!" @rededgerpstarterblog

[eliasren]

"Who are you?" Elisa joked and looked at Aiden before a smile came onto his lips and he laughed a bit. "Grab a plastic cup and fill it up so we can catch up." He chuckled. "Seriously Aiden, I thought I was bad at going ghost, you might have me beat though."

Aiden leaned back against the old oak tree, a lazy smile tugging at his lips as he watched the familiar chaos of Red Edge unfold in front of him. The park hadn’t changed — still littered with mismatched picnic blankets, old radios blaring half-decent music, and the warm buzz of people catching up like no time had passed.

His jacket was a little too light for the night chill, but he didn’t mind. Being back felt like slipping into a favorite song you hadn’t heard in years.

He spotted a few familiar faces weaving through the crowd and straightened up, pushing off the tree with an easy shrug. "Well, look who decided not to forget about me," Aiden called out with a grin, voice carrying just enough to be teasing without starting a scene.

The night was young, the drinks were cheap, and for the first time in a while, Aiden actually felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. @rededgerpstarterblog

[eliasren]

"Maybe it's more of a cruse than a miracle." Elias joked and looked at him with a chuckle. "Oh so you haven't changed either since I left? Got it, got it." His tone was light and teasing, but he also knew most people didn't change in Red Edge. Not really. No amtter how hard they tried to, they were always brought back to square one.

"I feel like I've been gone longer than a few months too, but I'm holding up good. I'm glad I'm back. Hell I've missed this place more than I care to admit."

Wyatt leaned back against the bench, arms crossed loosely over his chest, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. "Yeah, somehow the place is still standing. Miracles, right?" he said, voice easy but his eyes sharp, like he was still trying to figure out if this was real or just another memory sneaking up on him.

He shrugged after a second, kicking a pebble with the toe of his boot. "I've been... you know. Same old. Working, surviving, trying not to let this town eat me alive." His gaze flicked to Elias, more serious now. "Feels like you’ve been gone a hell of a lot longer, man. You holding up alright?"

[eliasren]

"Well I promise I won't do that again." Elias said as he looked at Valentina. He could tell that something was bothering her, but he wondered what it was. "You wanna tell me why you're sounding like a Netflix version of Elvira?" He raised a brow and walked over to her.

"You know I'm always down for drinks, Val." He added with a smile. "I do always have stories, but I'll only tell you mine if you tell me yours." He winked. "Them's the rules." He joked.

Valentina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked up at him, her lips curving into the softest of smiles—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes but was genuine all the same. The moment she saw Elias step out of that truck, something in her chest loosened. Like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay again.

“Longer than a few months,” she echoed gently, voice carrying the weight of everything she hadn’t said since Killian left. “Felt like years, honestly.”

Her eyes drifted to the streetlight flickering above them, the buzz of it filling the space between their words.

“I’ve been… managing. Some days are easier than others,” she admitted with a shrug, her fingers curling into the fabric of her coat. “But seeing you here? Kinda makes it feel like Red Edge is breathing again.”

She turned to him fully, brows lifting just slightly, teasing in the way only she could be when she wasn’t trying too hard to keep it together.

“And I’m surprised you didn’t come back with a beard and a mysterious past. You wanna grab a drink? I feel like you’ve got stories."

[eliasren]

Elias chuckled and looked at Nash. "I'm actually glad we can't get rid of Red Edge that easily. It's oddly comforting." He said and leaned bacak against the bench as he got the update from Nash and looked out at the horizon, taking in everything and nothing, that this town had to offer. "I've been good and don't worry, Red Edge won't change too much now that I'm back."

Nash leaned back on the bench, eyes scanning the streets for a moment before he looked over at Elias. The old familiar spark of amusement played in his eyes, but there was something more measured beneath it. He stretched his arms out, the leather jacket creaking slightly with the movement. "Red Edge? Nah, still holding on by a thread," he said with a small smirk, a touch of dry humor in his voice. "Might be ugly, but it’s home. Can’t get rid of it that easy." He paused, the grin fading a bit as he took in Elias’s quieter tone. The joke was a shield, but Nash wasn’t one to push too hard. He tilted his head slightly, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment before responding. "Been alright. You know how it is. Same old, same old." Nash leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, voice quieter now. "But yeah… feels longer, doesn’t it? Things change, but some stuff just stays the same." He turned his head slightly, studying Elias for a second. "You holding up alright? I mean…it’s not exactly the same around here without you." He said it lightly, but there was something genuine behind the words.

[eliasren]

"Sounds like you need to leave and I'm not talking about on a mayor paid for trip either." Elias said andlooked at him and chuckled. "I'm back for good." He promised her. "I don't think I'll leave again unless I have to and even if I do leave, I'll be back before you or anyone can miss me to much." He winked.

Brittany looked up from her phone, lips curling into a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, you know Red Edge—too damn stubborn to go up in flames. She��ll probably outlive all of us,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she studied him.

There was a pause, the kind that held more weight than it should have.

“I’ve been… here,” she said finally, eyes drifting back toward the street like it might offer a better answer. “Same job, same bar, same drama. Not much changes around here unless you leave.”

She nudged his leg lightly with her boot. “So what’s the verdict? You back for good, or just popping in to stir the pot and ghost again?”

[eliasren]

"Okay let's circle back to the scandals becuase as much as I enjoyed being away, I do hate that I missed scandals. After all, Red Edge isn't Red Edge without those scandals." He laughed. "You just got back from New York didn't you? How was that?" He asked. "Elias Ren is...doing the same as he's always been doing. Keeping to himself and that's about it."

"Elias, long time no see." Julian smiled at his friend and chuckled. "I think it's a miracle that it didn't burn down, though from the time you were away, there were a few scandals that had people more than ready to start a fire or two." He shrugged.

"I've been good, busy as hell, but good." He chuckled. "How about you? How is Elias Ren doing?"

[eliasren]

"That's true, it's scay how effecient this place can be when it comes to covering up shit like that." He looked at TJ and shook his head. "The mayor obviously has some scary good connections." He added. "You know I'm down for that." He said to TJ with a smile. "We can catch up, you can tell me all about your love live, I'm sure there's women throwing themselves at you more often than not."

"I mean, I'm sure if it did burn down, they'd rebuild it like nothing happened. The mayor is very effencient like that." TJ cocked his head to the side and looked at his friend. "And not to mention how much money the mayor seems to have. How have you been?" He asked. "Well, welcome back man. We gotta celebrate. We can do drinks at mine tonight if you want."

[eliasren]

"I think if it smelled like anything other than wet pavement and regret, we'd be in trouble." He looked at him. "Yeah I'm good, just sleep deprived from traveling as much as I have been lately." He admitted. Though it wasn't the full truth, but that was for another time.

"How's the restaurant going? Got Gordon Ramsey singing your praises yet?" He asked.

Lucas glanced over at Elias, his eyes catching the faint amber glow of the streetlight above them. He hadn’t moved much when Elias approached—just sat with his arms folded, hunched like the bench had grown around him. But now, he let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah, Red Edge is stubborn like that." He leaned back, letting the cold of the bench settle through his jacket. “Still smells like wet pavement and regret, though. So, you know. Business as usual.” He rubbed the back of his neck before finally answering. “I’ve been doing well. Just working, mostly. Same loop, different days." He gave a sideways glance, eyes narrowing like he was trying to read between Elias’ lines. “You look different, man. Heavier in the eyes. Like you’ve been carrying something.” He paused. “You okay?”